Boat- or ship-type anchor

ABSTRACT

A fluke-type marine-mooring anchor is disclosed as assembled from mechanical elements with a means of quick conversion from a folded, restrained condition to an open, working condition.

United States Patent Inventor Lowell Lloyd Patten [56] References Cited2360 E. 215! South St, Salt Lake City, UNITED STATES PATENTS A l N $3 81? 3,450,088 6/1969 Guier l 14/208 F556 216 1969 2,669,963 2/1954Christie 1 14/203 Patented Nov. 9, 971 3,022,761 2/1962 De Beixedin 114/208 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-F. K. YeeBOAT- OR SHIP-TYPE ANCHOR 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 114/208 R ABSTRACT: A fluke-type marine-mooring anchor is dis-Int. Cl 1363b 21/40 closed as assembled from mechanical elements with ameans Field of Search u l 14/208, of quick conversion from a folded,restrained condition to an 208 A, 207, 206 open, working condition.

PATENTED NUV 912m 3,618,554

sum 1 [IF 2 PATENTED NUV sum 3,618,554

sum 2 or 2 A 145, z izzzn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in marine-mooring anchors whichhave moving parts and more particularly to improvements in olderfluke-type anchors such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,576,390; 2,354,666;2,679,226 and 3,29l,093.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of this invention is toprovide an anchor of lightweight and high-holding power with means forquick and simple conversion into a flat, compact, and rigid package whennot in use. It provides other functions of a fluke anchor bymodification and addition of parts which are new and novel. A furtherobject is to provide a device of this character of simple and practicalconstruction which is efficient and reliable in operation and relativelysimple to manufacture and is quickly and easily folded for storageproviding unusual safety in handling and stowing. Other objects andadvantages are hereafter more fully explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the completeanchor in the open or working position.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the complete anchor in the folded or stowingposition with fluke clamped.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the forward section of the fork shaftmember, showing details of construction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the complete anchor in the workingposition, fluke down.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,the anchor comprises a bifurcated fluke anchor with a substantiallyV-shaped shank or frame 2 which supports the other parts of the anchor.The base or wide end of the flu'ke is attached to a rod 4 which forms anaxis that pivots in suitable holes near the rearward ends of the sidesof the frame. The blade 1 and frame are similar to those shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,669,963 and 3,022,76! with the differences described below.Said frame follows the outline of the fluke to provide protection of thepoints in the folded position. The frame contains an opening at theforward end (shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 which represent theoutline of the fork shaft as well as the outline of the frame opening)parallel to the long axis of the anchor which supports a Y-shapedmember, herein referred to as the fork," which is comprised of a shaftwith two attached arms 3. The fork shaft consists of a cylindricalforward section 10 with round cross section, and a prismatic rearwardsection 9 with square cross section. The two arms are attached to therearward end of the shaft and support inward facing hooks 7 at theirouter ends. The forward end of the shaft contains an eye for theattachment of an anchor line. The opening in the forward end of theframe contains round and square sections, corresponding to those of theshaft, and slightly larger. The round section of the shaft is longerthan the round section of the frame opening to allow forward-rearward aswell as rotational movement of the shaft in the opening. The squaresections can thus be engaged or disengaged while the round sectionsprovide a journal-bearing combination. The mating square elementsprovide a means of selectively locking the rotational position of theshaft at approximately 90 intervals.

This rotational locking could be provided by other means such as aspline system or lug and socket. A compression spring 6 is mounted onthe forward end of the fork shaft between the eye and the forward end ofthe frame, holding the fork shaft forward to retain the locked position.

The operation of the anchor is as follows. In the open or workingposition with the plane of the fork perpendicular to the plane of theframe, and the square sections of shaft and frame opening engaged, theanchor is supported on the bottom by one side of the frame and the outerend of one fork arm (back of the hook.) In this position one side of thebase of the fluke is elevated above the bottom, causing the other sideof the fluke to press against the bottom by gravity. Forward motion ofthe anchor by a pull on the anchor line then causes the edge of thefluke to dig, thus rotating the fluke downward. This rotation is stoppedwhen the fluke reaches a position where the cross link 8, which isconnected between the fluke halves, engages the fork hook 7. Furtherforward movement of the anchor then causes the fluke to dig in the usualmanner of fluke anchors. The fork member thus produces an effect similarto the appendages attached to the bases of the flukes on most flukeanchors which cause rotation of the fluke upon contact with the bottom(see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,022,761; 2,679,226 and 3,291,093) by differentmeans.

After being retrieved, the anchor is converted for stowing to the closedor folded position (FIG. 2) by holding the blade parallel and inside theframe and pressing rearward on the eye (usually done by holding theanchor in a vertical position and pressing down on the eye) so as todisengage the square sections. This allows the fork to be rotated intothe plane of the frame. In this position one arm of the fork liesagainst each face of the fluke. Release of pressure against eye thencauses the square sections to again engage holding the fluke inside theframe and immobile with points protected. The fluke can thus be foldedor restrained in approximately 2 seconds or less. The thickness of thefolded package is approximately one-twentieth of its length.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. An anchor assembly comprising in combination:

a support frame having members forming substantially a V, said membershaving openings located adjacent to the ends which form the open portionof the frame and an opening located at the apex of the V, said openinghaving a round forward section and a square rearward section;

a link joining the two halves of the bifurcated fluke;

a substantially Y-shaped fork member adapted to be supported by saidframe having:

a. a shaft comprising a round forward section and a square rearwardsection, said shaft fitting into said opening in said frame;

b. an eye at one end of said shaft to accommodate attachment of ananchor line;

c. and two arms with inward-facing hooks at the other end of said shaft.

a spring mounted on said shaft between said eye and the end of saidframe, said spring holding said shaft in said opening in a forwardposition so that when compressed said spring allows said square sectionof said shaft to be disengaged from said square section of said frameopening, allowing said shaft to be rotated about its axis, from aposition wherein said arms are in contact with opposite faces of saidfluke, to a position wherein one of said hooks will engage said linkupon downward rotation of said fluke, holding said fluke in the diggingposition.

1. An anchor assembly comprising in combination: a support frame havingmembers forming substantially a V, said members having openings locatedadjacent to the ends which form the open portion of the frame and anopening located at the apex of the V, said opening having a roundforward section and a square rearward section; a link joining the twohalves of the bifurcated fluke; a substantially Y-shaped fork memberadapted to be supported by said frame having: a. a shaft comprising around forward section and a square rearward section, said shaft fittinginto said opening in said frame; b. an eye at one end of said shaft toaccommodate attachment of an anchor line; c. and two arms withinward-facing hooks at the other end of said shaft. a spring mounted onsaid shaft between said eye and the end of said frame, said springholding said shaft in said opening in a forward position so that whencompressed said spring allows said square section of said shaft to bedisengaged from said square section of said frame opening, allowing saidshaft to be rotated about its axis, from a position wherein said armsare in contact with opposite faces of said fluke, to a position whereinone of said hooks will engage said link upon downward rotation of saidfluke, holding said fluke in the digging position.